Dispenser control means



Nov. 23, 1937.

J. M. GORDON DISPENSER CONTROL MEANS Filed March 30, 1936 INVEN TOR. JOSZP/v M 60/?00/v. BY

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES DISPENSER CONTROL MEANS Joseph M. Gordon, Sou

of one-half to Lelan Ind.

th Bend, 1nd,, assignor d E. Line, South Bend,

Application March 30, 1936, Serial No. 71,764

10 Claims.

This invention relates to dispenser controlling means, and particularly to means for controlling a pay-out or dispensing device associated with a coin operated amusement device.

Heretofore various types of controls have been used with dispensing devices associated with coin operated machines, but these have been of the type so associated with the machine as to be actuated only upon certain successful manipulations or operations of the device dependent either upon skill or luck. It is the primary object of this invention, however, to provide a control device entirely disassociated fromthe normal operation or play of the machine, and which energizes a dispenser in a predetermined manner dependent entirely upon the number of times the coin operated machine is operated, so that play of the machine is stimulated by the incentive incident to the possibility of obtaining a reward Without regard to the character or value of the result of the operation of the machine per se.

A further object is to provide a control of this character including a counting device and means associated therewith for automatically energizing 9,7, a dispenser each time a predetermined number of operations of the machine has been counted.

A further object is to provide a control of this this character with means for preventing repeated actuation of a dispenser.

e Other objects will be apparent from the description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a coin operated amusement device with parts thereof broken 5 away to illustrate the application of the control device and dispenser thereto.

Figure 2 is a view of the control device in side elevation, and in inverted position.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the control 40 device with parts broken away to better illustrate the construction.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the control device illustrating the operation of the means for preventing repeated operations of the 45 control.

Referring to the drawing, which illustrates the preferred embodiment of the invention, and particularly to Fig. 1, which illustrates the application of the control to one type of coin op- 50 erated device; the numeral l0 designates a conventional coin operated amusement device of the pin-ball type, having a casing H with a transparent cover, and a game board l2 within the casing and adapted to be viewed through the cover.

55 The game device is provided with a projector I3 or plate l8 which has apertures I9 therein arranged in normally off-set relation to apertures [6 of game board 12 to trap the balls which lodge in said apertures IS. The plate I8 is slidable by the coin receiver of the device to bring apertures I 9 into registration with apertures IE to 15:

release the balls upon the insertion of each successive coin in the device. This construction is all conventional in the art.

Suitably mounted within casing 10 is a dispensing or pay-out device, here illustrated diagrammatically at 2! and preferably of the electrically operated type. Also mounted within the machine is the control device diagrammatically illustrated at 22 and adapted to be actuated by a suitable actuating arm or member 23 carried by plate i8. One or more pairs of normally spaced spring contacts 24 are associated with the control device to be shifted into engagement thereby, and these pairs of contacts constitute control switches in the circuits 25 for actuating the dispenser 2| through electrical energy derived from any suitable source, here illustrated as a dry cell 26.

The control device 22 is mounted on a suitable plate like base 21 formed of insulating material and includes a flange 28 by which the base 21 may be mounted on the under side of game board 12 in laterally spaced relation to plate l8, and a vertical off-set portion 29 adjacent the side edge of plate l8, whereby the base proper is spaced below the plate Mounted on the base 21 is a suitable frame of substantially U-shape inv vertical section. Frame 30 includes spaced horizontal Walls 3| and a vertical connecting wall 32 therebetween. The horizontal walls 3| curved outline and mount vertical shafts 33 and 34 between their end portions and a vertical shaft 35 between their center portions. Frame 39 is preferably mounted in spaced relation to base 21 by suitable bolts and nuts 36 having 50 spacers 31 associated therewith and interposed between the base and frame.

Journaled on the shaft 33 between frame walls 3| are a plurality of cooperating counter elements each comprising a ratchet wheel 38 and a 55 i8, as illustrated in Fig. 3. 40

are each of generally disc 39 fixedly connected together in concentric relation, with the disc 39 of substantially larger radius than the ratchet wheel. The number of these counter elements employed is optional, three being here illustrated. A spacer M is positioned between the group of counter elements and one frame wall ti for the purpose of holding said counter elements in desired position longitudinally of shaft 33. Journaled on the shaft 35 are a plurality of pawls Lit equal in number to the counter elements and each adapted to lie flush with one face of a tooth of the complementary ratchet wheel. Each of these pawls 4| has a shoulder 52 normally positioned in substantially parallel relation to vertical wall 32 of the frame and borne against by one end of a coil spring 43 whose opposite end is seated in a suitable recess Al formed in an interior enlargement 65 of said Wall 32.

Journaled on the shaft 3% between spacers M3 is a lever t'll which has opposed free end portions t8 and t9. Lever end portion (i8 is connected by a coil spring 5t with the vertical frame wall 32 to draw said end portion to the right as viewed in Fig. 3, and this spring actuated lever movement is limited by engagement of a pin El carried by said lever portion $8 with the vertical frame wall 32. The lever end portion L9 carries a pin 52. parallel to shaft a l on which is pivoted the bifurcated end portion 53 of a pawl unit 54 which comprises integral pawls or fingers 55. The pawl fingers 55 are spaced apart and each is aligned with one of the rachet wheels 38; and said fingers are of different lengths, as best illustrated in Fig. 3, with the longest thereof only being in normal engagement with its complementary ratchet wheel, being the lowermost as seen in Fig. 2. A coil spring 56 extends between pawl unit 5% and lever ill to hold the former in operative relation to the ratchet wheel assembly. In constructions where more than one ratchet wheel 38 is employed, all but one of said wheels are provided with a notch 5'? between two of the teeth thereof, as best illustrated in Fig. 4, into which the cooperating pawl may move to bring the next adjacent and shorter pawl into engagement with its ratchet wheel. In this way the second ratchet wheel is rotated only one step or notch for each rotation of the first ratchet wheel, and the third ratchet wheel is operated only one step or notch for each complete rotation of the second, which occurs only when the notches 51 in the first and second ratchet wheels register in position to receive the ends of the cooperating pawls 55.

Fixedly mounted on the pivoted end of pawl unit 5 5 is a bracket 58 having parallel opposed ears 5Q projecting therefrom to mount a pin 60 parallel to pin 52. On the pin Ell is pivoted one end of a plate ti which is so positioned and of such width as preferably to engage the periphery of each of the discs 39 in spaced relation to the ends of pawls 55. A spring 62 is connected at its opposite ends to plate 6i and vertical frame wall 32, and passes between the pawls 55.,

One or more of the discs 39 have one or more pairs of pins 63 projecting radially therefrom in circumferentially spaced relation. As here illus trated, two of the discs are each provided with a pair of said pins. Of each pair of pins 53, one pin is substantially longer than the other. The spacing of the pair of pins on each individual disc preferably differs from the spacing of the pins on the other discs, as best illustrated in Fig. 2, and for purposes to be hereinafter set forth.

The actuating member 23 carried by plate i8 is preferably formed of sheet metal and comprises a base Ed secured to plate 88 in spaced relation to base 21, a perpendicular central portion 65, and an end portion t5 spaced from plate l8 and extending in normally spaced aligned relation to the end 39 of lever t'l.

One or more angle brackets 61 formed of insulating material and having elongated slots 58 in one flange thereof for the reception of suitable securing means 69, are adjustably secured in face contacting engagement to the base 271 in spaced relation to the discs 39. The other or vertical flange of each of said brackets is preferably provided with a pair of spaced parallel vertical elongated slots m for the reception of means H by which the spring contact switches 24 are adjustably secured thereto. Each of the spring contact switches comprises a pair of normally spaced elongated spring plates l2 between one end of which is interposed a spacing layer of insulating material it, and over the outer of which is disposed a second insulating layer l t. The free ends of the spring plates l2 extend in the direction of the discs 39, each being positioned opposite a disc which is provided with pins 63 and terminating in spaced relation therefrom a distance less than the length of the long pins and greater than the length of the short pins of each pair of pins 63 on the complementary or associated disc 39. Connected to the outer end of each contact i2 is one wire of one of the circuits 25.

The spacing of the long and short pins 63 of each pair on each disc is equal to the space between said long pin when positioned to flex spring plates :32 into engagement, and a point adjacent and in front of the free end of plate 6|.

The operation of the device is as follows: Each time the plate it is shifted by coin receiver 20, the end portion (if? of actuating member 23 is longitudinally shifted therewith to engage the lever end it to pivot lever 41 against the action of spring 53 to thereby cause the longest pawl 55 to engage the first or primary ratchet wheel 38 one notch. The spring pressed pawl ll cooperating with said primary ratchet wheel serves to prevent backlash of said ratchet wheel and acts as a brake against spinning of said ratchet wheel by said pawl. Upon release of actuating member 23 the parts return to their normal position, the engagement of pin 55 carried by lever 41 with frame wall 32 serving to prevent return of said lever ll by spring 5&3 beyond a predetermined position adjusted to insure a subsequent operating throw of the lever just sufilcient to enable pawl 55 to rotate ratchet wheel 39 one notch.

As the operation of the coin controlled machine continues, with actuation of the control device coincidentally with each actuation of the coin receiver, the ratchet wheels are rotated in the well known manner of counting devices until the long pin 63 on one disc 39 is moved to a position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4, to flex the spring contact plates 52 into engaging relation or closed-switch position to complete the circuit 25 to actuate dispenser 2!. The same movement of said disc disposes the short pin 63 of the same pair forwardly of the front or free end of plate 5!. Then upon the succeeding operation of the coin receiver to pivot lever 4's and pawl unit 54, the plate 5! carried by the latter engages the short pin 63 and rotates said operating disc one notch to shift the long pin 63 past the sprin contacts 72 to again open the switch formed thereby and thus prevent immediate repetition of the actuation of the dispenser as would otherwise occur by virtue of the normal stationary relation of the secondary discs until a predetermined number of operations of the primary disc have occurred. It will also be obvious that this arrangement is such that when the long pin 63 is shifted to a position immediately in front of the plate 6l,-said plate will engage it upon the succeeding actuation of the coin controlled device. In this way, for each pin on each of the secondary discs, said discs are given one free or lost step movement. This requires compensation of the ratchet wheels of the secondary discs to provide the desired count between actuations of the dispenser. Thus, assuming it is desired to close the circuit to the dispenser 2| which is associated with the central disc once for each one hundred operations of the game device, and to close the circuit associated with the other secondary disc once for each one thousand operations of the game device; the first or primary ratchet wheel will be provided with ten teeth, and the others will be provided with twelve teeth each, comprising ten working teeth, and two additional teeth to compensate for the lost motion of said discs incident to operation thereof by engagement of plate 6| with the teeth thereof. The pivot mounting of plate Bl accommodates the passage of the pins 63 thereunder, and the spring contacts 12 are sufficiently flexible to permit the long pins 63 to move past the same.

It will thus be seen that this invention provides a control by which a dispenser may be actuated at intervals in response to any predetermined number of operations of the associated coin controlled device, to provide a stimulus to users of the device based on the knowledge that rewards are dispensed during a sequence of operations entirely independently of skill or of the result obtained by operation of the game device per se.

What is claimed as new and useful is:-

1. Means for controlling a dispenser associated with a coin controlled device to operate said dispenser once for each predetermined number of operations of said coin controlled device, comprising primary and secondary members rotatable step-by-step, said secondary member being associated with said primary member to normally rotate one step for each revolution of said primary member, means for actuating said primary member, a control switch comprising spaced resilient contacts, means carried by said secondary member for pressing said contacts into engagement, and means cooperating with said first named actuating means for rotating said secondary member one step upon the operation of the primary member immediately following engagement of said contacts.

2. Means for controlling a dispenser associated with a coin operated device to operate said dispenser once for each predetermined number of operations of said device, comprising a primary member shiftable step-by-step, a secondary stepby-step member normally shifted one step for each predetermined series of steps of said primary member, a normally open switch, means carried by said secondary member for closing said switch at a predetermined position of said secondary member, and means for shifting said secondary member one step upon operation of the primary member immediately succeeding closing of said switch.

3. Means for controlling a dispenser associated with a coin operated device, comprising a rotatable ratchet, a pawl for actuating said ratchet step-by-step, a second rotatable ratchet normally rotated step-by-step in response to repeated actuation of said first ratchet, control means actuated by said second ratchet at a predetermined position thereof, and means associated with said pawl for shifting said second ratchet from control-actuating position upon the actuation of the pawl immediately succeeding shifting of said second ratchet to control-actuating position.

4. Means for controlling a dispenser associated with a coin operated device, comprising a member rotatable step-by-step, a second member normally rotatable step-by-step in predetermined delayed relation to to first member, actuating means carried by said second member, a control energized by said means when said second rotatable member is at a predetermined position, and means for shifting said second rotatable member independently of its normal relation to said first member upon the first actuation of said first rotatable member following actuation of said control.

5. Means for controlling a dispenser associated with a coin operated device, comprising a series of members rotatable step-bystep in predetermined counting relation, means for actuating one of said members, control means comprising a stationary part and a part carried by another of said members, said parts interengaging in actuating relation when said last named member is at a predetermined position, said actuating means being normally disassociated from said last named member, and means carried by said actuating means for rotating said last named member immediately succeeding interengagement of said parts.

6. Means adapted to control a dispenser associated with a coin operated device, comprising an actuator, a member shifted step-by-step by said actuator, a step-by-step secondary member normally shifted one step upon each cycle of operation of said first member, control means operated by said secondary member when said secondary member is in predetermined position, and means cooperating with said actuator to shift said secondary member one step upon operation of said actuator following operation of said control.

7. Means adapted to control a dispenser associated with a coin operated device, comprising a series of rotatable members including a primary member and an operating member normally rotatable one step for each rotation of said primary member, an actuator for said primary member, a controller, a member for actuating said controller carried by said operating member, and means for consecutively shifting said operating member and controller actuating member with said primary member upon actuation of said actuator succeeding operation of said controller by the actuating member therefor.

8. Dispenser control means comprising a series of members normally rotatable step-by-step and including a primary member and an operating member normally rotatable in predetermined relation to said primary member, a control, means carried by said operating member adapted to actuate said control when in a predetermined position, and means for shifting said operating member consecutively with said primary member when said operating member is adjacent said predetermined control actuating position.

9. Dispenser control means comprising primary and secondary members normally rotatable stepby-step in counting relation, an actuator engaging said primary member, a control, means carried by said secondary member for actuating said control when in predetermined position, and a projection carried by said secondary member and engageable by said actuator to shift said second ary member independently of its normal relation to said primary member when said secondary member is in said predetermined position.

10. Dispenser control means comprising pri mary and operating members normally rotatable step-by-step in counting relation, an actuator engaging said primary member, control means actuated by said operating member, and means engageable by said actuator for rotating said operating member independently of said counting relation following each operation of said control.

JOSEPH M. GORDON. 

